Vertically stacked or divided fluid filter system for inlet, outlet or both inlet and outlet filtering

ABSTRACT

A liquid (water) pitcher that includes a pitcher having a liquid receiving aperture configured to allow a liquid (water) to be delivered into an interior liquid storage volume defined by at least one upwardly extending wall extending upward from a base and a liquid (water) filter positioned within the pitcher that includes a filter housing and at least one gravity-driven fluid treatment medium within the filter housing where the filter housing has a plurality of fluid intake apertures and at least one treated fluid outlet configured to deliver treated fluid into an internal volume of a vessel wherein the at least one fluid filtering medium treats the liquid at a rate of at least about one liter per minute while removing at least chlorine odor and chlorine taste components from the liquid (water).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/733,020, filed on Dec. 4, 2012 entitledWater Filtration/Treatment System, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One aspect of the present invention includes a liquid pitcher having apitcher that includes a liquid receiving aperture configured to allow aliquid to be delivered into an interior liquid storage volume defined byat least one upwardly extending wall extending upward from a base and aliquid filter positioned within the pitcher that includes a filterhousing and at least one gravity-driven fluid treatment medium withinthe filter housing wherein the filter housing has a plurality of fluidintake apertures and at least one treated fluid outlet configured todeliver treated fluid into an internal volume of a vessel. The at leastone fluid filtering medium treats the liquid at a rate of at least aboutone liter per minute while removing at least chlorine odor and chlorinetaste components from the liquid. The liquid typically being treated iswater.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a water pitcher havinga pitcher with a water receiving aperture configured to allow a water tobe delivered into an interior water storage volume defined by at leastone upwardly extending wall extending upward from a base and a lid sizedto cover the water receiving aperture and a water filter positionedwithin the pitcher proximate the lid that includes a filter housing andat least one gravity-driven fluid treatment medium within the filterhousing wherein the filter housing has a plurality of fluid intakeapertures and at least one treated fluid outlet configured to delivertreated fluid into an internal volume of a vessel. The at least onefluid filtering medium treats the water at a rate of at least about oneor more typically at least about two liters per minute while removing atleast chlorine odor and chlorine taste components from the water.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed toward a waterpitcher that includes a pitcher having a water receiving apertureconfigured to allow a water to be delivered into an interior waterstorage volume defined by at least one upwardly extending wall extendingupward from a base and a lid sized to cover the water receiving apertureand a water filter positioned within the pitcher proximate the lid thatincludes a filter housing and at least one gravity-driven fluidtreatment medium within the filter housing wherein the filter housinghas a plurality of fluid intake apertures and at least one treated fluidoutlet configured to deliver treated fluid into an internal volume of avessel. The at least one fluid filtering medium treats the water at arate of at least about one liter, but more typically at least two litersper minute while removing at least chlorine odor and chlorine tastecomponents from the water. The pitcher's at least one upwardly extendingwall and base have an exterior surface and may be constructed of aplastic material with a layer of material(s), typically glass, gold,silver, titanium, oxide, or a combination thereof, on the exteriorsurfaces thereof. Typically, the layer of glass is about one micronthick.

In each aspect of the present invention the at least one gravity-drivenfluid treatment medium within the filter housing may be two divided andseparate gravity-driven fluid treatment (water treatment) medium or maybe two separate gravity-driven fluid treatment medium spaced in astacked relationship to one another and positioned proximate oneanother. In either case fluid is treated in two stages by the twoseparate gravity-driven fluid treatment medium.

These and other features, advantages, and objects of the presentdisclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilledin the art by reference to the following specification, claims, andappended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front prospective view of a drop-shaped gravity filterassembly according to an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an elevated front view of a drop-shaped gravity filterassembly according to an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a drop-shaped gravity filter assembly accordingto an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a drop-shaped gravity filter assemblyaccording to an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a drop-shaped gravity filter assemblyaccording to an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A is an exploded view of a drop-shaped gravity filter assemblyaccording to another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a drop-shaped gravity filterassembly according to an aspect of the present disclosure taken alongthe plain of VI-VI in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the bottom funnel portion of adrop-shaped gravity filter assembly according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the bottom funnel portion according to an aspectof the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom funnel portion takenalong lines IX-IX in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom funnel portion takenalong lines X-X in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the top cap portion of a drop-shapedgravity filter assembly according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the top cap portion of a drop-shaped gravityfilter assembly according to an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is an elevated side view of the top cap portion according to anaspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the top cap taken along linesXIV-XIV in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the filter of the drop-shapedgravity filter assembly according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 15A is a front perspective view of the filter of the drop-shapedgravity filter assembly according to another aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of the filter according to an aspectof the present disclosure with the top filter media retention elementremoved showing the interior of the filter;

FIG. 16A is a front perspective view of the filter according to anotheraspect of the present disclosure with the top filter media retentionelement removed showing the interior of the filter;

FIG. 17 is a top view of the filter according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the filter according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a side view of the filter according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 19A is a reduced height version of the filter of FIG. 19;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the filter shown in FIG. 19according to an aspect of the present disclosure taken along lines XX-XXin FIG. 17;

FIG. 20A is a cross-sectional view of the filter of FIG. 19A;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a drop-shaped gravity filter assemblyaccording to an aspect of the present disclosure, positioned within thelid of a pitcher;

FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of a drop-shaped gravity filterassembly positioned within a pitcher;

FIG. 23 is a top view of a drop-shaped gravity filter assemblypositioned within a pitcher;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the pitcher with a standard lid withinthe cap aperture in the drop-shaped gravity filter assembly according toan aspect of the present disclosure removed from the cap aperture;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXV-XXV in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is an elevated view of the container portion of a pitcheraccording to an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the container portion of thepitcher of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is an elevated side view of a water pitcher according to anaspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the top portion of the water pitcher ofFIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a schematic view of a double walled vessel with the filterand adapter as the top cap of the vessel (pitcher);

FIG. 31 is a schematic view of a single walled vessel with the filterand adapter as the top cap of the vessel (pitcher);

FIG. 32 is a schematic view of a vessel according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure showing filter medium treating fluid entering andleaving the vessel;

FIG. 33 is a schematic view of a vessel according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure showing the filter medium for treating intake fluidand when the fluid leaves the vessel;

FIG. 34 is a top view of the filter used in the vessel design of FIG.33;

FIG. 35 is a schematic view of a vessel according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure with two separate filter media treating an intakefluid;

FIG. 36 is a schematic view of a vessel according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure with two separate filter media treating an outgoingfluid from the vessel;

FIG. 37 is a schematic view of a vessel showing a filter treating intakefluid and fluid outgoing and also applying a flavorant and employing aflow sensor on the outlet sides of the filter(s);

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of a filter shown in FIG. 37 takenalong the line XXXVIII-XXXVIII of FIG. 39;

FIG. 39 is a bottom view of a filter used in FIG. 37;

FIG. 40 is a schematic design of an electronic sensor/signal/batterypack “pill” that is positioned within the filter material of a filter.

FIG. 41 is a schematic design of a vessel showing a filter treatingoutgoing fluid and a treatment medium (filter) that contains a chloride“battery” that supplies chlorine to intake water that in delivered intothe vessel through the treatment medium;

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of the filter according to another aspectof the present disclosure;

FIG. 43 is a perspective view of the filter shown in FIG. 42 with thetop cap portion removed;

FIG. 44 is an elevated side view of the filter shown in FIG. 42;

FIG. 45 is a top view of the filter shown in FIG. 42;

FIG. 46 is a bottom view of the filter shown in FIG. 42; and

FIG. 47 is a cross-section view of the filter of FIG. 42 taken alongline XLVII-XLVII in FIG. 42.

FIG. 48 is a bottom view of a filter, such as the filter shown in FIG.42, according to another aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,”“left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivativesthereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1. However,it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume variousalternative orientations, except where expressly specified to thecontrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices andprocesses illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in thefollowing specification are simply exemplary embodiments of theinventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specificdimensions and other physical characteristics relating to theembodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting,unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art thatconstruction of the described disclosure and other components is notlimited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of thedisclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety ofmaterials, unless described otherwise herein. In this specification andthe amended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” includeplural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that eachintervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lowerlimit of that range, and any other stated or intervening value in thatstated range, is encompassed within the disclosure. The upper and lowerlimits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in thesmaller ranges, and are also encompassed within the disclosure, subjectto any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the statedrange includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either orboth of those included limits are also included in the disclosure.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement ofthe elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments isillustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the presentinnovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, thoseskilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciatethat many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes,dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements,values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example,elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple partsor elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, theoperation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, thelength or width of the structures and/or members or connector or otherelements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustmentpositions provided between the elements may be varied. It should benoted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may beconstructed from any of a wide variety of materials that providesufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors,textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of the present innovations.Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be madein the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired andother exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of thepresent innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps withindescribed processes may be combined with other disclosed processes orsteps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. Theexemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrativepurposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can bemade on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing fromthe concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to beunderstood that such concepts are intended to be covered by thefollowing claims unless these claims by their language expressly stateotherwise.

FIGS. 1-4 show an assembled gravity filter assembly of an aspect of thepresent disclosure. The gravity filter assembly is generally drop-shapeddesign, but conceivably could be any shape such as a cylinder-shapeddesign. The gravity filter assembly 10 may treat any fluid, buttypically would be used to filter and/or treat water. The drop shapedgravity filter assembly 10 typically has at least a bottom funnelportion 12, a top cap portion 14, and a filter 16. The bottom funnelportion typically has a perimeter 18 that operably engages the filter 16and the top cap portion when the components are assembled for use. Thebottom funnel portion typically, but optionally, has a cutout portion 20that allows for a portion of the exterior of the filter to show throughand be visible to a user of the drop-shaped gravity filter. The outsidesurface 22 of the bottom funnel portion 12 typically has a curvilinearperimeter path that terminates at a liquid outlet 24, typically a wateroutlet, at the base 26 of the bottom funnel portion 12. The bottomfunnel portion is conically shaped and tapers smoothly following thecurvilinear path from the perimeter, which is typically circular, to thebase 26. The bottom funnel portion 12, the top cap portion 14, and thefilter 16 are typically constructed of a polymeric (plastic) material,but could also be constructed of glass or other material as well. Thematerial may be opaque, translucent, or transparent. Typically, thebottom funnel portion 12 is opaque and the top cap portion 14 istransparent or translucent. The top cap portion typically has a liquidreceiving aperture 28, which is typically circular, at the upper surfaceof the top cap section. The aperture 28 is typically sized to at leastreceive a given amount of water flow, which may be a water flow from afaucet.

FIGS. 5 and 5A show exploded views of embodiments of the gravity filterassembly 10 according to the present disclosure. The drop-shaped gravityfilter assembly bottom portion 12 typically has an over-molded material30, which is typically a plastic or an elastomeric material thatfacilitates gripping of the filter by the user and/or the vessel it maybe engaged with during a filtering operation. The over-molded material30 also typically has a cutout portion 20 b that matches the cutoutportion 20 a of the host component 32 of the overall bottom funnelportion 12 when a cutout portion 20 is present as part of the bottomfunnel portion 12.

An aspect of the filter 16 is also shown exploded in FIG. 5 and anotherin FIG. 5A. The filter typically has a side wall section 34. The sidewall section 34 has an outwardly projecting lip 36 typically positionedabout two-thirds of the way to the top of the side wall section. Theoutwardly projecting lip 36 is typically positioned proximate the bottomof the side wall section, but may be up to about ½ to about ⅔ up theside wall section such that it divides the side wall section into abottom portion 38 and an upper portion 40. The upper portion may have atleast one, but typically has a plurality of indicators 42. Theindicators are typically visible within the cutout portion 20. Theytypically function to indicate to the user when the filter should bereplaced. When the filter has a six month useful life, for example, andthe user inserts the filter in April, the user should, in the embodimentshown, place the filter within the bottom funnel portion, such that itmates with the bottom portion and displays “OCT” through the cutoutportion as shown. In addition, a version is conceived where theindication shows both the install and end of life month abbreviationthrough the cutout portion 20. Also, as shown in FIGS. 15A, 16A, 19A,and 20A and described in more detail later, the filter 16 may be shorterand have the section of the side wall with the indicators 42 removed. Asshown in FIG. 5A, a mesh material, which typically is a stainless steelmesh screen or a plastic (polyethylene or polypropylene) mesh screen 43may be integrated or engaged with the filter base 44 and the filter top60 as well.

The filter further typically includes a filter base 44, which may bespoked (reference numeral 45) about a hub 47, FIG. 18, or have asufficient number and/or sized apertures 46 (or 46′ in FIG. 46) to allowwater flow at a rate faster than the water flow through the filtermaterial 48, which may be a permeable or porous, loose or a morecompressed filter media. The filter base 44 can be a separate componentthat is engaged with the side wall section 34 or the filter base may beintegrated with the side wall section as a single component. An O-ring50 or other typically elastomeric material is spaced within a channel 52in the upper portion 40 or atop the upper portion 40 of the filter sidewall 34. The bottom portion 38 of the filter side wall 34 also typicallyincludes at least one, but more typically a plurality, and mosttypically about three downwardly projecting tabular members 54. Thesetabular members are matingly received within spaces 56 between theinterior projecting members 58, which are typically wedge-shaped membersor are human incisor teeth-shaped and project into the interior of thebottom funnel portion 12 per FIG. 7. The interior projection membershave an upper shelf 59 that extends into the interior of the bottomfunnel portion as well as tapered sides 61 extending down toward theliquid outlet 24 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). This somewhat lock-and-key-typeengagement, where the tabular members 54 are seated at least partially,more typically fully, within the spaces 56, between the filter 16 andthe funnel portion 12 facilitates the secure, but easy engagement anddisengagement of the filter by hand and without the use of tools withthe bottom portion 12 without being threadably engaged with one another.The engagement also facilitates the engagement of the filter with thebottom filter portion in such a manner that the appropriate indicator,when employed, shows through the cutout portion and that only purposefuladjustment of the filter within the funnel will change the indicatorwhen viewed through the cutout portion 20. As mentioned above, differentheight versions of the filter 16 are possible. In particular, a tallversion as described above with indicators 42 arranged on side wallsurface 34 as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 and a shortened version withoutside wall section 38 and indicators 42 arranged on side wall surface 34as shown in FIGS. 15A, 16A, 19A, and 20A.

The filter also typically has a filter top 60 that seals the filtermaterial 48 within the overall filter 16. The filter top 60 typically acircular perimeter and typically has a perforated structural section 62that is typically sized and shaped to fit within the side wall section34 and rim 68 of the top cap portion 14. The perforated structuralsection is joined (shown, using spokes 66) with a hub 64, whichtypically is centrally located and has an upwardly projecting spindle 67to facilitate it being grasped by a user. The perforated structuralsection allows for fluid, typically water, to flow through apertures 49in the filter top and into engagement with the filter material 48 toallow the water or other fluid to be treated by the filter material.

The perimeter rim section 63 of the top cap portion 14 is typicallyindented a specific distanced from the outer curved wall portion 70 suchthat the outer curved wall portion mates with the bottom funnel portion12 outside surface 22 and creates an at least substantially contiguoussurface such that the exterior of the gravity filter assembly appears tobe a smooth surface when assembled. The indented distanced creates a lip72. As shown in FIGS. 5, 5A, 11, 12 and 13, the perimeter rim section 63outer surface 74 typically includes at least one, more typically aplurality of, and most typically about three slanted elongated members76 that extend away from the outer surface 74 and are received in gaps78 in the interior surface of the bottom funnel portion such that whenthe top cap portion is engaged with the bottom funnel portion androtated, the elongated members 76 slide into engagement with the grooves80 to retain the two in engagement with one another, but still allowingthe two pieces to be disengaged and reengaged with one another by handand without the use of tools. Alternative versions of the engagementmembers are shown in FIGS. 11-13, which show the members 76 that aresmaller, more rectangular prism shaped members that may or may not beslanted. They are shown not slanted.

The interior of the bottom portion 12 also typically has an interiorshelf 82 (see FIG. 7) that receives the lip 36 of the side wall of thefilter 16 and engages the bottom surface of that lip 36. The top surfaceof the lip 36 typically engages the funnel engaging rim 68.

The at least one medium 48 is typically a filter medium, but conceivablycould add components to the fluid (typically water) flowing through, orotherwise, into contact with the at least one medium 48. As discussedlater in more detail, this could include chlorine or other halogens.Typically, the at least one medium is a filter medium 48. The medium ispositioned within the filter 16 and may include: (1) material configuredto treat water, especially water for human consumption, chosen from atreatment group consisting of filtering particulate matter from thewater; (2) material that adds a descaling agent to the water, vitaminsto the water, minerals to the water, and/or one or more pharmaceuticallyactive agent(s); (3) material that removes specific soluble organic orin-organic elemental compounds and thus improves the taste of the water,removes odor from the water, and alters the color of the water; (4)reduces concentrations of heavy metals, pesticides, volatile organiccompounds, specific pharmaceutically active agents; (5) removes cystsand micro-organisms; (6) adding a halogen such as bromine, iodine,chlorine compounds as a disinfectant agent to the water; (7) conditionsthe water such as softening through use of ion exchange resins orALUSIL™ (an aluminosilicate) to change the chemical structure of calciumchloride in solution to reduce scaling deposition; or (8) combinationsof any or all of the above materials.

The descaling agents that may be added to the fluid by the treatmentmedium may be chosen from the group consisting of organic acid,inorganic acid, sulfonic acid, carboxylic acid, lactic acid, aceticacid, formic acid, oxalic acid, uric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloricacid, sulfamic acid, and mixtures thereof. The water treatment mediumcontained in the filter may also be chosen from the group consisting of:carbon (e.g., activated carbon particles, such as mesoporous activatedcarbon, carbon powder, particles sintered with a plastic binder, carbonparticles coated with a silver containing material, or a block of porouscarbon); ion exchange material (e.g., resin beads, flat filtrationmembranes, fibrous filtration structures, etc.); zeolite particles orcoatings (e.g., silver loaded); polyethylene; charged-modified,melt-blown, or microfiber glass webs; alumina; aluminosilicate material;and diatomaceous earth. The water treatment medium may also beimpregnated or otherwise disposed on a porous support substrate, such asa fabric material, a paper material, a polymer screen, or otherconceivable porous structures that may be contained in the filter.

The water treatment medium 48 typically allows a water flow rate of atleast approximately one to two liters per minute. The medium typicallyalso reduces chlorine, taste and odor components (CTO) per NSF 42 tominimum of 60 gallons and Atrazine, Benzene, Alachlor and Lindane perNSF 53 for minimum of 60 gallons. The filter medium 48 also typicallyremoves lead, copper, mercury, cadmium and arsenic (pH 6.5 per NSF 532004 standard) for up to 60 gallons, sfd. Media from Selecto describedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,241,893 and 6,764,601, the disclosures of which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, may be used. Onesuch compound is an amorphous potassium aluminosilicate filtration mediawhich may be mixed with activated carbon filters water to remove oxygen,chlorines, hardness, alkalinity, ammonia, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide,sodium sulfite and other contaminants. The particular sodiumaluminosilicate is a porous amorphous material formed under ultravioletlight or sunlight to produce pore sizes of 60 Å to 250 Å at ambienttemperatures (20° C.-35° C.) and low relative humidity (5%-20%). Themedia is initially formed as a microporous primarily amorphous gelcontaining Na₂O, Al₂O₃, SiO₂ and H₂O. The sodium therein is displaced bypotassium, whereby the filter removes impurities from water withoutintroducing sodium. The potassium aluminosilicate may be a second stagefilter to a first stage filter composed of a strong base anion mediacharged with potassium carbonate and/or bicarbonate. The filtrationmedia may be used in any type gravity filter including that in aninverted bottle type dispenser for filtering water the flowing from thebottle to the spigot and also filtering air which bubbles back into thebottle in response to opening the spigot. The media as blended withactivated carbon may be composed of molded particles having diametersfrom 1 to 100 microns and preferably 1-20 microns with an averagediameter of about 10 microns. It also may be blended with zirconiumoxide without carbon for reducing anion and cation species from drinkingwater. The filter medium may also be a granulated powder purificationmaterial that includes inorganic particles having an average sizeranging from about 20 nm to about 200 microns in an amount ranging fromabout 1 wt % to about 75 wt % agglomerated with a zero melting indexhigh-density polyethylene binder and core particles having an averageparticle size ranging from about 2 mesh to about 200 mesh agglomeratedwith the inorganic particles and binder. The core particles include(gamma or alpha) alumina, zeolite, carbon, or mixtures thereof.

The filter medium does not typically require any presoaking and does nottypically contain any carbon fines, in particular carbon fines thatmight find their way to the treated water, which often occurs whencurrent carbon based gravity filters are used.

As shown in FIG. 21-27, the gravity filter assembly 10, which istypically a drop-shaped gravity filter, may be seated within the centersection of the cap of a liquid vessel 92, which is shown as a pitcher inthe Figures. The water pitcher is typically a single or double walledpitcher. The Figures show a double walled pitcher. The double walledpitcher may have an interior volume defining wall/section 94 and anexterior defining section 96. The interior volume defining wall and theexterior defining section may be constructed of the same or differentmaterials. While plastic pitchers with both the interior volume definingwall and exterior defining section (as well as optionally the othercomponents such as the handle 100, top 102, which may be threadably orotherwise removably engageable and disengagably from the pitcher (seeFIGS. 27-29), and lid 104) may be used, typically the interior volumedefining wall 94 is a composite or single material that is a morepreferred material to contact filtered water such as glass, stainlesssteel, titanium oxide, gold or silver coating. When a single walledpitcher is used, the interior filtered water facing surface may beplated with the materials mentioned above. The double walled pitcher mayalso be constructed of glass and constructed using a glass process thatis either spun welding of two pieces together blow formed or othercontrolled process that forms such a double walled pitcher of glass. Fora single or double walled construction the glass can be blow-molded orvapor deposited onto another media such as plastic or metal. Either orboth the interior volume defining wall 94 and the exterior definingsection 96 may be entirely glass or may be plastic with a layer of glasson the water-contacting surface in the case of the interior volumedefining wall 94 or the exterior, user facing surface of the exteriordefining section 96. Such a construction lightens the weight of theoverall pitcher while using a more preferred material for both tactileor visual aesthetic and water contacting. When a plastic surface isallowed to contact the filtered water, the user may perceive tastevariations.

The pitcher may also use an adapter instead of the drop shaped gravityfilter assembly to filter water as shown in FIGS. 30-31. The adapter 98may be a lid or other section that typically has a filter within theadapter and constructed to allow for water flow into the pitcher/vesselby allowing water to flow through the adapter and filter and into thewater vessel. The filter 16 a disposed within the adapter is a slightlymodified version of the adapter 16 discussed above. In this embodiment,the side wall section may not be solid but rather have ribs or bars 106that provide structural support between the filter base 44 a and thefilter top 60 a.

FIGS. 28-29 show an alternate water vessel of the present disclosure.The vessel is a double walled vessel as discussed above.

Gravity filters of the present disclosure typically also allow for fluidto be treated to flow in either direction through the filter and treatthe fluid. As shown in FIGS. 32-37, the fast flow nature of the filtermaterial typically used allows for a filter material to be positioned totreat intake water (or other fluid) flows through filter A and into thevessel and also be treated as the water (or other fluid) flows throughfilter B. This allows for some significant benefits. One such benefitallows for certain undesirable materials to be initially removed from afluid, such as microorganisms and other impurities from untreated water,but leaving chlorine and other desirable materials within the water inthe vessel during storage that would prevent further development ofmicroorganisms while the water resides in the vessel and prior toconsumption or use. The filter B may then be used to further treat thewater (or other fluid) in the vessel as the water is dispensed for use.Of course, the water may be completely treated, depending on the filtermedia, for all impurities and undesired components while the untreatedwater is received and when it is dispensed. FIGS. 33-34 show a dividedfilter that has two separate filter media in the filter. The dividedfilter treats water in much the same manner as shown in FIG. 32, but thefilter media are each positioned toward the outlet of the vessel and insuch a manner that Filter B treats the fluid as it is poured from thevessel. In a final variant, the two filters, in the depicted versionsmay be stacked on either or both the intake side or the outlet side asdepicted in FIGS. 35 and 36, respectively. In another variation, aflavorant such as a lemon flavor or lemon juice may be applied to thefluid within the vessel by engaging a flavor source within the vessel asshown in FIG. 37. The lemons or other flavorant may be held in the wirecage or other structure acting as a sieve for the prevention of pulptransfer that could clog a filter inlet and are typically located belowthe intake treatment filter.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the filter may beconstructed with a flow sensor on the outlet portion of the filter (seeFIGS. 37-39). As shown in FIG. 40, the filter medium is typically anopen cell medium such as a blown polyethylene, a loose granular such asactivated carbon or an open weave fibrousmaterial. A water filter flowsensor or other sensor/signal/battery pack pill may be spaced within thecompressed filter medium. Sensors such as piezo electric flow detectors,timer circuits, chemical detectors, and indicator generators, such as,digital or analog signals or voltage or light may be used in the pill.The filter itself would provide operational data, status, filter typeinformation, filter life (for example, by LED lightindication—green=good, yellow=replace soon, and red=expired filter). Thepill typically contains a battery power supply, timer circuit, flowsensors, and/or chemistry sensor(s). The electronic components of thepill typically are disposable or recyclable such that the expired filterwith the pill placed within the filter medium may be either disposed inthe trash or recycled.

The piezo sensor may be a MYLAR™, which is biaxially-orientedpolyethylene terephthalate, a polyester film made from stretchedpolyethylene terephthalate (PET), of a few thousandths of an inch thickthat produces an electrical signal when mechanical force is applied.This may be amplified sufficiently by a circuit to increment a counterto measure the total of the volume of water that has flowed through thevessel. Typically, this is measured upon the fluid/water exiting thevessel as opposed to as the fluid/water enters or both. When the totalvolume is reached, a transistor switch can turn power on to a red LED toindicate that the filter has expired. The signal can also be fed to asecond driver to cause an LED to, for example, flash an LED blue whenwater is being poured. The piezo sensor can be either incorporated intothe filter or into the filter medium itself as discussed above. Thesensor can be placed into a single channel to provide a more accuratemeasurement.

Alternatively, a dissolving polymer may be employed in a proportion tothe volume of water to be treated. This can have a spring loadedfollower component resting on it. The follower can be brightly coloredwith bands of different color. Green can indicate the filter is okay andbright red when the filter has expired. A circuit with parallelresistances can also be set up. As the water dissolves and provideslocal short circuiting of the stage the resistance changes and the LEDintensity or color changes. An RGB LED is typically employed.

Additionally, the interface between the filter and the adapter can havea number of physical and/or electrical tabs that can combine to indicatewhat filter type is attached. When twisted, for example, a coloredpointer may indicate what type of filter is engaged, i.e. a CTO(chlorine, taste and odor filter) or a microbial filter by displaying adifferent color for each, such as green and blue respectively.Additionally, metal tabs could be included in various positions alongthe circumference of the interface ring between the adapter and thefilter that would match with contact on the filter housing or othersurface that create the corresponding signal and display for the type offilter.

A chlorine pill or halogen could also be a bromine or iodine compound.As shown in FIG. 41, a vessel system may utilize a chlorine component orother halogen compound as a water treatment media for water that istaken into the vessel. The “chlorine battery” may be made of apolymerized chlorine compound. This material dissolves in water inproportion to the volume of water that has flowed over it, releasingchlorine in a regulated amount based upon water volume and therebydisinfecting the water. The system may further employ a chemistry basedcolor change indicator located at the filter outlet is provided tonotify user of filter life state change, such as the presence ofchlorine at the filter exit indicating the filter medium is no longerremoving chlorine from the flow. The water flowing out of asecond/subsequent water treatment media would typically have thechlorine, taste and odor components removed by a filter of the presentdisclosure positioned at the outlet of the vessel. This system makes theoutgoing water pleasant to drink and microbiologically safe.

An alternative filter 16′ of the present disclosure is shown in FIGS.42-48. The filter top 60′ is domed shaped. A mesh material 43′ istypically engaged with the top of the filter side wall section 34′, forexample within a slot (not shown) that runs about the interior perimetersurface of the filter side wall section 34′. The mesh screen material43′ across the top of the filter and beneath the domed filter top 60′ istypically constructed of stainless steel or a plastic material such aspolypropylene or polyethylene or other thermoplastic polymer material.The mesh is constructed and engaged with the filter side wall such thatit is capable and configured to expand upward into the domed section ifthe filter material 48′ expands. The top mesh 43′ may be heat staked tothe side wall section. Alternative, it could be positioned within a slotdescribed above. The mesh material may also be less than taut across thetop of the filter in order to further facilitate this expansion. Whenengaged within a slot, the expansion may also facilitated by the meshscreens engagement to the side wall section 34′ such that it laterallymoves, if necessary, within a slot on the interior surface of the sidewall as discussed above. Other engagements, constructions and materialsthat allow for the mesh screen to expand while still retaining thefilter material can also be employed. The filter material 48′ may be aloose media and not a compressed media.

The side wall section 34′ is integral with the filter base 44′ accordingto this aspect of the present disclosure. The side wall section 34′ andthe base 44′ are typically injection molded thermoplastic material suchas polypropylene or polyethylene. These components form a “can” likestructure with a generally U-shaped cross-section. The mesh component43′ positioned at the base is typically integrally engaged to the baseand molded into the base. The mesh may be constructed of any of thematerials discussed above that might be used for the screen on the topof the filter.

As shown in FIG. 47, the filter may also employ an open cellpolyethylene expansion block 33′. The open cell material couldconceivably be another polymer material. This material's primaryfunction is as a safeguard against damage caused by expansion of thefilter material 48′. If the filter material 48′ has already beenhydrated and is a type of filter media that expands such that the filtermedia has already expanded into the domed portion of the filter, thismaterial prevents damage if, for example, the filter in such a conditionis placed into a freezing environment that would cause the water withinthe filter material to further expand as it becomes solid.

The apertures 49′ in the domed filter top 60′ are shown shaped asraindrops, but could be any shape desired. The apertures 46′ in the baseare typically smaller apertures that have a square cross-section withapertures having a diameter of from about 0.5 mm to about 2.0 mm, moretypically from about 1.0 mm to about 2.0 mm. A slightly modified patternof apertures 46″ are shown in FIG. 48. The apertures of FIG. 48 aretypically similarly sized as discussed above. The apertures aredistributed in a generally spoked pattern about a central ring ofapertures and have an outer ring of apertures around the peripheralportion of the base as shown in FIG. 48. This size and shape of aperturein the base (see FIG. 48) causes the filtered/treated water to fall intoa vessel or into the bottom funnel portion in a manner that drips acrossthe surface of the base and resembles rainfall.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A liquid pitcher comprising: A pitcherhaving a liquid receiving aperture configured to allow a liquid to bedelivered into an interior liquid storage volume defined by at least oneupwardly extending wall extending upward from a base; a liquid filterpositioned within the pitcher that includes a filter housing and atleast one gravity-driven fluid treatment medium within the filterhousing wherein the filter housing has a plurality of fluid intakeapertures and at least one treated fluid outlet configured to delivertreated fluid into an internal volume of a vessel wherein the at leastone fluid filtering medium treats the liquid at a rate of at least aboutone liter per minute while removing at least chlorine odor and chlorinetaste components from the liquid.
 2. The liquid pitcher of claim 1,wherein the liquid filter is a divided filter with two gravity-drivenfluid treatment medium spaced adjacent one another in the filter housingand divided from one another by a dividing wall.
 3. The liquid pitcherof claim 2, wherein the two gravity-driven treatment medium providedifferent treatment to fluid passing through them.
 4. The liquid pitcherof claim 2, wherein the liquid filter is positioned proximate the top ofthe pitcher and the divided filter positioned such that water added tothe pitcher is initially treated only by a first one of twogravity-driven fluid treatment medium and water dispensed from thepitcher out a spout of the pitcher is subsequently dispensed and treatedonly through the second of the two gravity-driven filtering medium. 5.The liquid pitcher of claim 1, wherein the at least one gravity-drivenfluid treatment medium within the filter housing comprise two separategravity-driven fluid treatment medium spaced in a stacked relationshipto one another and positioned proximate one another such that fluid istreated in two stages by the two separate gravity-driven fluid treatmentmedium.
 6. The liquid pitcher of claim 5, wherein the two separategravity-driven fluid treatment medium spaced in a stacked relationshipto one another are positioned to treat fluid received from a fluidsource as the fluid is added to the pitcher from the fluid source. 7.The liquid pitcher of claim 5, wherein the two separate gravity-drivenfluid treatment medium spaced in a stacked relationship to one anotherare positioned to treat fluid that is dispensed from the pitcher as theliquid is being poured from the pitcher.
 8. The liquid pitcher of claim5, wherein the two separate gravity-driven fluid treatment medium spacedin a stacked relationship to one another are positioned immediatelyadjacent one another.
 9. The liquid pitcher of claim 8, wherein the twoseparate gravity-driven fluid treatment medium spaced in a stackedrelationship to one another are spaced beneath a lid sized to fit a topof the pitcher wherein the lid has a fluid receiving portion and a fluiddispensing portion and two separate gravity-driven fluid treatmentmedium spaced in a stacked relationship to one another are positionedproximate the lid and configured to treat fluid received into thepitcher through the fluid receiving portion of the lid and wherein thetwo separate gravity-driven fluid treatment medium treat fluiddifferently from one another to either remove or add differentcomponents to the fluid being treated by contact with the two separategravity-driven fluid treatment medium.
 10. The liquid pitcher of claim9, wherein the two separate gravity-driven fluid treatment medium spacedin a stacked relationship to one another are spaced beneath the lid andon one side of a dividing wall extending into the interior volume of thepitcher from a bottom surface of the lid and configured to limit fluidcontact with the gravity-driven fluid treatment medium to when fluid isadded to the pitcher or when fluid is dispensed.
 11. The liquid pitcherof claim 1, wherein the gravity-driven fluid treatment medium is acompressed medium produced from activated carbon, a blown polyethyleneor an open weave fibrous material and having a pill inside the interiorof the compressed medium wherein the pill includes a sensor, signalgenerator, and battery pack and provides at least one of operationaldata, filter status, filter type information and filter life informationto a user display.
 12. The liquid pitcher of claim 11, wherein thesensor is a piezo sensor made from biaxially-oriented polyethyleneterephthalate.
 13. The liquid pitcher of claim 1, wherein at least oneof the gravity-driven fluid treatment medium is a gravity-driven watertreatment medium that reduces chlorine taste and odor components (CTO)per NSF 42 to a minimum of 60 gallons and the at least onegravity-driven water treatment medium allows for a water flow rate of atleast about two liters per minute of flow through the gravity-drivenwater treatment medium under a force of gravity.
 14. The liquid pitcherof claim 11, wherein the at least one fluid treatment medium includes atleast one water treatment medium that allows for a water flow rate of atleast about two liters per minute of flow through the water treatmentmedium under a force of gravity.
 15. The liquid pitcher of claim 1,wherein the pitcher's at least one upwardly extending wall and base havean exterior surface and are constructed of a base material with a layerof glass on the exterior surface thereof.
 16. The liquid pitcher ofclaim 15, wherein the base material is a plastic substrate and the layerof glass is a one micron thick layer of glass.
 17. The liquid pitcher ofclaim 1, wherein the filter housing comprises a top screened surface anda bottom screened surface and a plurality of support bars extendingbetween the top screened surface and the bottom screened surface to forma cage structure.
 18. The liquid pitcher of claim 1, wherein the atleast one fluid treatment medium comprises an aluminosilicate.
 19. Awater pitcher comprising: A pitcher having a water receiving apertureconfigured to allow a water to be delivered into an interior waterstorage volume defined by at least one upwardly extending wall extendingupward from a base and a lid sized to cover the water receivingaperture; a water filter positioned within the pitcher proximate the lidthat includes a filter housing and at least one gravity-driven fluidtreatment medium within the filter housing wherein the filter housinghas a plurality of fluid intake apertures and at least one treated fluidoutlet configured to deliver treated fluid into an internal volume of avessel wherein the at least one fluid filtering medium treats the waterat a rate of at least about one liter per minute while removing at leastchlorine odor and chlorine taste components from the water.
 20. A waterpitcher comprising: A pitcher having a water receiving apertureconfigured to allow a water to be delivered into an interior waterstorage volume defined by at least one upwardly extending wall extendingupward from a base and a lid sized to cover the water receivingaperture; a water filter positioned within the pitcher proximate the lidthat includes a filter housing and at least one gravity-driven fluidtreatment medium within the filter housing wherein the filter housinghas a plurality of fluid intake apertures and at least one treated fluidoutlet configured to deliver treated fluid into an internal volume of avessel wherein the at least one fluid filtering medium treats the waterat a rate of at least about one liter per minute while removing at leastchlorine odor and chlorine taste components from the water; and whereinthe pitcher's at least one upwardly extending wall and base have anexterior surface and are constructed of a plastic material with a layerof glass on the exterior surfaces thereof.